Guard means for the cutting mechanism of binders, mowers, &amp;c.



L. M. HAQWKINS.

GUARD MEANS FOR THE CUTTING MECHANISM OF BINDERS, MOWERS, 81c.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-22,1914.

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LEWIS lVL HAWKINS, or CARROLLTON, MISSOURI.

GUARD MEANS FOR CUTTING MECHANISM OF BINDERS, ,MOWERS,. 8w.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwrs M. HAWKINS,

acitizen of the United States, residing at Carrollton, in the county of Carroll and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guard Means for the Cutting Mechanism of Binders, Mowers, &c., of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to a cutting mechanism for binders, harvesters, mowing machines, etc.,- and more particularly to improved means for preventingthe clogging of' the sickle blades and guard fingers and for preventing the sickle bar from tripping or jerking short grain down lengthwise,

resulting in the elevation of the end of the cutting mechanism, thus causing the binder" string to miss tying some of the grain, which would result in an unnecessary waste of grain.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide, a cutting mechanism with a hingedly supported guard plate overhanging the sickle bar and operating to prevent clogging of the bar and adjacent parts with the grass or grain as the same is being cut, said guard plate being so mountedas to be capable of being lifted to allow access to the parts normally covered thereby,

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which will be simple, durable, efiicient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture. With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, hereinafter more fully describedand claimed, and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout i the several figures, of which Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a portion of the cutting mechanism of a binder. Fig. 2- represents a view in cross section of ,the same, the position of the guard plate when raised being indicated in dotted lines, and Fig. 3 represents a view in perspective, parts being shown in section, of a fragment of the cutting mechanism, the guard plate being shown in raised position.

Specificationjof Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed October 2 2, 1914. Serial No. 868,058.

In carrying out my invention I employ a cuttingmechanism including a finger bar 5 and guard fingers 6. The latter are of usual construction and support the reciproca'tory sickle in the usual manner. The sickle includes a sickle bar 7 to the under side of which the sickle knives or sections 8 are secured. The guard fingers project forwardly from a body portion 9 with which they are in tegrally formed. The upper face of this body portion is rabbetted near its rear edge, and

in the r'abbet is disposed the forward donlower portion 12 of the plate is bent at right angles to body 11 thereof, and depends below the finger bar in a horizontal plane. The lower legs 13 of right angle irons are disposed upon the doubled edge 10 of plate 11, and said body 9, doubled edge 10 and legs 13 arec'onnected together and secured in place by means of the bolts l i. The opposite legs 15 of the angle irons are secured by bolts or other suitable fastening means 16 to the front face of finger bar 5. In this manner the guard fingers are .detachably secured to the finger bar.

The sickle bar 7 is guided and maintained in place by means of cleats 17 which occur at spaced intervals along the cutting mechanism. These cleats include hooked portions 18 overhanging the sickle bar. The hooks project forwardly from the plates 19,.which aredetachably secured'in place by the fasteningmeans 20 which also serve to aid fastenin'gs 14k in connecting the guard fingers to the doubled edge of plate 11. As indicated more clearly in Fig. 3 the guard fingers and sickle are arranged in a plane somewhat below the upper surface of finger bar 5.

. In order to prevent grain or grass from clogging the sickle and rearportions of the guard fingers, during the operation of the mechanism, I provide a guard plate21. The latter is in the form of a flat strip having a depending lip 22 formed along its forward edge and having its rear edge'beaded or turned as at 23 for the reception of a pintle pin 24. The pin is composed of sections, each of which extends between adjacent fastenings 15 as indicated in Fig. 3, and each section is secured to the finger bar 5'by a plurality of' clips 25 fastened to the front face of said finger bar. The pintle pins are so disposed that the upper surface of the guard plate at its rear edge or along the beaded portion-thereof is flush with the. upper surface of finger bar 5. rean'edge. the guard is recessed at intervals as at 26 to accommodate the fastenings. 16 in such manner as to allow plvotal move-' ment ofthe-guard plate upon the pintle pins.

7 Theyli'ppededge 22. is also recessed at intervals as at 27' to accommodate the hooked portions 18, of cleats 17. The cleats serve normally to' support the guard plates in the position indicated in Fig. 2. When in this position the plate effectually prevents en'- be had.

'tranceof grain. or grass to the sickle bar and adj acentparts of the mechanism. Although the lippedv portion 22 is disposed-in close proximityto the sickle bar and knives, yet

it. is not in contact with them, so that no frictional retardation is caused by the use ofthe guard plate. 1

order. to normally maintain the guard. plate inthe position indicated in Fig. 8, re-

. silientmeans in the form of a plurality of springs indicated at 28 is employed. Each spring is secured. at its rear end by means of a screw or similar fastening 29 to the front face of fingerbar 5 below the pintle pin. 241. Each spring is coiled'intermediate itsends, and the forward end'of'the spring slidably extends through a small staple or similar keeper. 30 depending from the under face of the guard plate. The tendency of the springs is to maintain the plate in lowered position.

The guard plate 2 1 may be lifted. if de sired to-a position approximatelyindicated in dotted lines, so that access to the portions normally covered by the guard plate may Ailthough I' have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I may desire to make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts thereof as do not depart from the .spirit of the invention and the scopeof the appended claims. I claim:

1. In a cutting apparatus, the combination with a finger bar having guard fingers, a sickle and cleats operably associated therewith, said guard fingers, sickle and cleats being disposed below the plane of the upper face of said finger bar, of a guard'plate having its forward; edge provided with a depending lip and'having its rear edge rolled, a pintle pin supported relatively to the finger bar and'extendingthrough the rolled portion of the edge of the guard'plate' forpivotally connecting the latter relatively to the finger bar, said guard plate having Along its its lipped edge provided with recesses for accommodating said cleats, the latter adapted to support the guard plate in close proximity to but out of engagement with the sickle, and resilient means for normally 2. A device of the class described including a finger bar, having a plurality of guard fingers extending therefrom, a sickle operatively disposed relatively to the guard fingers, a plurality of cleats for guiding the sickle,.and a guard plate pivotally connected along one edge to the finger bar near the upper surface of thelatter, said guard plate extending outwardly and overhanging the rear portions of the guard fingers and sickle and being supported'out' of contact with said sickleby the cleats. v

3. A device of the class described c0m= prising a finger bar, guard fingers and a sickle operably associated therewith and disposed below the plane of the upper surface. of said finger bar, a plurality of cleats for guiding the sickle, a normally inclined guide plate pivotally. connected along its rear edge to the finger bar near the upper surface of the latter, said plate extending forwardly and overhanging the rear portions of the finger guards, and sickle, and

spring means connected to the finger bar andengaging with the guard plate for normally maintaining the latter at its free edge in engagement with the cleats.

4:. In a cutting mechanism, thecombina maintaining the guard plate in lowered position.

tion. with a, finger bar, guard fingers, and a.

sickle, of a plate pivotally connected-at one edge adjacent thefinger bar and at its opposite edge overhanging the rear portion of the guard fingers and. sickle in close proxguard for thesickle, a plurality of springs arranged beneath the plate and being con nected thereto and'to the finger bar for nor mally maintaining the guard plate in such position at'fits free edge as to be disposed in close proximity to the rear portions of the guard fingers and sickle, means for maintaining the free edge of the plate out of contact with the sickle, said plate. adapted tobe raised for allowing access to the bar and at its other edge disposed adjacent imity thereto and forming a continuous f the sickle and operating to house the rear tain said guard plate normally in contact portions of the guard fingers and sickle,- with its supporting means.

uide means for the sickle adapted to sup- 1301 1; the guard plate adjacent its other edge LEWIS HAWKINS 5 out of contact with the sickle, and spring Witnesses:

means arranged below the guard plate and HARPER HAWKINS, connected with 1t in such manner as to ma1n- CARTER L. HAWKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0'. 

